Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for reducing airway hyperresponse

Abstract

The present invention relates to agent selected from the group consisting of an anti-S100B antibody, an anti-S100B aptamer or an inhibitor of S100B gene expression for use in a method for reducing airway hyperresponse in a subject in need thereof. The present invention also relates to a method for determining whether a subject is at risk of having or developing an airway hyperresonse comprising determining the level of S100B protein in a biological sample obtained from said subject.

1 . A method for reducing airway hyperresponse in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an agent selected from the group consisting of an anti-S100B antibody, an anti-S100B aptamer or an inhibitor of S100B gene expression. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the subject suffers from a airway disease selected from the group consisting of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, hypersensitivity pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, emphysema, bronchitis, allergic bronchitis bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, occupational asthma, sarcoid, reactive airway disease syndrome, interstitial lung disease, hyper-eosinophilic syndrome, rhinitis, sinusitis, exercise-induced asthma, pollution induced asthma and parasitic lung disease. 
     
     
         3 . A method for determining whether a subject is at risk of having or developing an airway hyperresponse comprising
 determining the level of S100B protein in a biological sample obtained from said subject.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of determining comprises is performed by
 contacting the biological sample with a binding partner that binds S100B with high affinity, thereby forming an S100B-binding partner complex, and   detecting the formation of the S100B-binding partner complex.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said binding partner is an antibody or an aptamer.